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Over the past few days I’ve become quite the fan of Blitzen Trapper from Portland, Oregon. A single on Subpop’s 20 year anniversary CD (which I got in a goodie bag on Record Store Day BTW) led me to this track, which turns out to be NOT indicative of their style. I’m giving their recent release a run now, and it reminds me at times of another Portland band, Menonema which is good. This track is more acoustic, but I love the Elliot Smith sounding vocals and the dreamy, story like lyrics - it’s a winner.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Morrissey’s Birthday today, he turns 49.  It was one year ago tonight that I saw him play here in St. Louis for his 48th…time flies.  Over the weekend my wife and I watched a dvd of a rebroadcast concert from Madrid in 1984 of The Smiths, and the songs still stand.  Here’s hoping many happy returns to the man whose music has stuck with me now for more than 20 years!  In other news, it looks like PETA has put Morrissey up with Bloc Party and Paul McCartney for ‘sexiest vegetarian award‘, whatever that’s worth, and Moz’s new single will feature (another) David Bowie cover.  Meanwhile he’s said to be at work on his latest album, set to be released this Fall.

We saw Radiohead last night, and they did not disappoint.  My wife and I weren’t looking forward to the venue, a big shed and lawn ‘pavilion’ that everyone has now, but in the end it turned out to be a great night, with the location not being bad at all. We last saw Radiohead at the same venue twelve years ago during their tour for The Bends, but it wasn’t until just after that with the release of OK Computer that I went completely ga-ga for them for life.  They had a huge chunk of material to choose from, and the show was amazing. After two nice numbers from their recent release, they broke out Airbag and the place went nuts. All the energy seemingly projected via the light show, which was really cool (don’t think I’ve ever said that). And look, I have to say this again and again, but dammit, Johnny Greenwood is so amazing, his composition, the sounds he gets from his guitar, and that shredding sound that he rips from it…outstanding-freaking-standing. Of course he saved the best for last with Paranoid Android coming alive to close the show. I was happy to see the variety of concert goers, considering most were likely getting out of diapers when OK computer came out! The fact that this band has that much pull across a a swath of fans like that without radio play gives me hope for the future.  A great writeup of the show on RFT, be sure to follow their link to their well done slideshow of pictures (it’s where I got the one above). Now to find a soundboard or matrix sourced recording somewhere and we’ll be all set. Full set list after the jump.

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“On Saturday, April 19, 2008, hundreds of independently owned music stores across the country will celebrate Record Store Day. On this day, all of these stores will simultaneously link and act as one with the purpose of celebrating the culture and unique place that they occupy both in their local communities and nationally.”  There you go, April 19th I expect all of you to visit an independent music store in your area and buy some music; records, cds, 45s, posters, tshirts - hell, consider getting a new turntable, the kind with the USB plugs so you can rip that new vinyl!  I’ll be swinging by my neighborhood store, Euclid Records for sure on that day (and likely before…) - the thought of not having that as an option terrifies me.

Swedish band Refused is my all time favorite hardcore band, which ended after the release and abbreviated tour of their last album, the monumental, The Shape of Punk to Come - a CD permanently on the list of my all time fav records.  Word from the Refusedfan.com website is that Refused member David Sandström has dropped that a live cd will finally see the light of day this year.  “This year will most likely give us a new REFUSED record! It’s their US label Epitaph that are planning to release a live album! The band had a meeting sometime ago regarding this and regarding their contract with Epitaph. David Sandström says: “…It was nice to meet again but it feels kind of surrealistic that new material will see the light of day when we quit the band almost 10 years ago…” This is really great news and I will keep you updated about it as soon as I hear anything! Check this link for more info (only in Swedish):  Another thing to look forward to is the upcoming DAVID SANDSTRÖM OVERDRIVE album. There will probably be a single released in February and the album will probably be out in March!” For anyone who has any sort of appreciation for hardcore, pick-up the aforementioned TSOPTC, or the earlier (and perhaps more representational of hardcore from a straightedge view) Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent, for primer; this is an important band, even 10 years after their demise. (more…)

While I don’t look to Maxim for advice on buying music, it seems hilarious that one of their writers slammed the upcoming Black Crowes’ release, giving it only ** 1/2 stars out of *****, without even hearing the full album.  That’s cold.  “The band posted an exasperated statement on its Web site last week, saying the Maxim writer hadn’t heard the entire album because advance copies were not available. The Crowes’ manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review was an “educated guess.” Maxim editorial director James Kaminsky responded Tuesday with this statement: “It is Maxim’s editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers.”  Call me crazy, but I’m going to take an “educated guess” that the rest of the March 2008 Maxim (or any other issue) is not worth my time either. 

With a starting bid of US $3,000,000.00 this is one crazy eBay auction. Described as “The World’s Greatest Music Collection (3 Million Records, 300,000 CDs, 6 million+ Song Titles)”, you’re ostensibly buying a record store. In an interview, “Paul Mawhinney, owner of the Record Rama Sound Archives in Pittsburgh, Penn., is selling off what he calls “The World’s Greatest Music Collection” — as a whole — with a starting bid price of $3 million US ‘I want the history of American popular music to be available for future generations.’—Paul Mawhinney This is my life’s work,” the 69-year-old music enthusiast told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I’ve had a lot of people that wanted it, but they didn’t have the right kind of capital.” Looking at the pictures, it looks exactly like the old school record stores I’d seek out when I would be in towns like Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and LA.  There aren’t many like this anymore, which makes me appreciate my neighborhood Euclid Records all the more.  In the end, what I like about this auction is the seller’s mindset that the music belongs to everyone, and is not just some commodity. “Mawhinney says he’d like the collection to be available to the public, which is a proviso of the sale. “I want the history of American popular music to be available for future generations,” he told The Toronto Star. The buyer is required to either donate the collection or create a public space for people to access it.” It sounds perfect for the Library of Congress, but apparently they didn’t have the funds.

This is just silly, so apparently during her Grammy performace, Amy Winehouse was told to cover up exposed breasts…on one of her tattoos!  The reason given was that, “Grammy bosses were scared she’d offend US audiences” with her pin-up girl tattoo on her left upper arm.  Really, that would have offended Americans? “The ‘Back to Black’ star used her trademark black eyeliner to disguise the breasts of a nude girl tattooed on her arm as she performed via satellite link from London at the Grammys. “Amy drew a little black bikini top on the large topless female tattoo on her arm, so as not to offend any of America’s puritanical viewers,” a source told Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.” Now come on, I’m going to need to find another source on this, really, would any of you be offended if you saw a topless tattoo on tv?  I would think things like shootings, murders and adultry constantly protrayed on tv shows would be something to focus on rather than an ink drawing of some (giggle) boobies! (giggle, giggle)  Pla-lee-zz.

UPDATE: So Amy took 4 of the 5 awards she was nominated for, Mark Ronson, the producer of Back To Black took Producer of the years, and most importantly she tore it up on a medley of I’m no Good and Rehab from London.  Good for her.

While I can’t think of a time I looked forward to the Grammys, this year is the exception. After getting approval from the rehab center she’s currently staying in, she was still denied a visa to travel to the US to attend the Grammys, but Amy Winehouse will perform via satellite for the show. She has the most nominations shy of Kanye West, and with good reason, her cd Back To Black is a stunner. Between her strong, soulful voice, her songwriting and arrangements, this is amazing music that I can heartily recommend to everyone. It’s great to hear she’s doing better, and I look forward to seeing her belt it out as only she can.  “I’m raring to go and really excited to be performing at my first Grammy Awards,” says Amy, “I’d like to thank everyone for their support over the last couple of weeks. I’m really sorry I can’t be there but I appreciate that I’m being given a second chance via satellite” Winehouse said in a statement to Access Hollywood.  [...] She is nominated for six Grammys, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Female Performance for “Rehab,” Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Back to Black”.

On December 9, 10 Robert Pollard had his debut art exhibit called Do The Collage (a play on the title of Guided by Voices 1999 release, Do The Collapse) at Studio Dante. in New York City.  Now the entire exhibit is online (but note the person pictured at that link is not Bob), and  it displays the talents of Bob’s cut and paste collages, much like the sound of his band’s early recordings.

Some of these images will be familiar to GbV die hards, as Bob’s artwork adorned many of the cds, LPS and singles that GbV put out over the years.  Additionally, the above shows up as a prop onstage when he tours with his current band. Of course with all things Bob Pollard, the quality is there, despite the quantity that you sometimes have to wade through; persistence and patience will pay off, keep digging! Having said that, if anyone doesn’t have Alien Lanes or Bee Thousand, you’re missing out on some of the best rock from the early 90s. Here’s another salty salute to Bob! Kick it…